Tribe of Ephraim, I Chronicles 12:30; Tribe of Ephraim, Ezekiel 37:16 and Hosea 5:3)
*Joshua 1:7-8 ESV
Philippians 4:19 ESV
Philippians 4:19 MSG
John 14:15 ESV
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Psalm 119:15-16 ESV
Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
Joshua 1:1-9 MSG
It’s difficult for us to imagine the magnitude of what Joshua, Son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim was given to accomplish. While it was Moses who spoke for Israel and led them out of Egypt, he was not the one who led Israel into the land that had been promised.
Joshua was the warrior chosen by God to lead the charge to claim the Promised Land.
The tribe of Ephraim was known for being a tribe of warriors (I Chronicles 12:30). In the Old Testament Ephraim was known for the tribes that made up the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ezekiel 37:16 and Hosea 5:3).
Joshua was called by God. The name Joshua means to save.
God was faithful to the Covenant made to His people. The battle for the land that Joshua was given was a result of God fulfilling His promise to Israel.
God was following through on His promise made to Abraham.
There are multiple commands God gave to Joshua in Joshua 1:7-8, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Notice the commands:
Be strong and courageous. Those words were repeated numerous times. We do not come to a place of being strong and having courage by our own merit. God promises to provide a way. In Philippians 4:19 we are told, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 from the Message tells us, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.”
Follow the Law Moses commanded and taught; do not turn from the law and you will have success. John 14:25 tells us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
We are reminded by Jesus in Matthew 6 not to be anxious but to seek the kingdom. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
The Law will not depart from you but you need to meditate on it day and night; be careful to follow it and then you will be prosperous. Psalm 119:15-16 tells us:
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
We also know from Psalm 1:1-6 a comparison of two ways we can walk,
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Choosing to walk in the way can look different for everyone. Take meditation for example. Some who meditate on God’s Word have a special place they go to. They sit a certain way. They practice silence and wait for the movement of the Spirit.
Others may meditate (think about God or scripture) on a crowded noisy bus. Their ‘place’ is the open seat they find. The sit as comfortably as they can in that seat. They do not close their eyes. The people on the bus are talking and laughing. The silence comes from a place deep in their heart and mind. As they sit on the crowded bus they wait for the Spirit.
Either way…or any way is fine. Meditation isn’t something done one way. That’s because we are all different. God speaks to us personally because we are God’s blessing.
Because of that, Moses was Moses and he accomplished what God called him to do and be.
Joshua was not Moses.
We read in Joshua 1:1-9, “After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”
Joshua was a “get going” kind of guy and God called him to get going.
What about you?
Spiritual Practice: Go
How is God calling you? Consider that and talk to God. Listen for direction, and then GO!
In God, Deborah
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